By Jonathan Feigen |
January 27, 2010

Rookie Jermaine Taylor, limited to just 17½ minutes this season, likely will be sent to the Rockets’ NBA Development League affiliate today, a move considered the next step in getting him ready to play with the Rockets, confirmed Gersson Rosas, the Rockets’ vice president of player personnel and Rio Grande Valley Vipers general manager.

The Rockets likely will sign Vipers point guard Will Conroy, their final cut in the preseason, to a 10-day contract Friday.

“The coaching staff felt (Taylor) has really helped himself doing what he can off the floor,” Rosas said. “We all as a group want to see him in a game setting to see what he can apply at this point and how he can handle big minutes and more opportunity in real game situations.

“One of the great things, the coaches and player development guys spent a lot of time with JT, preparing him for the opportunity to play. There is a good window of games and the opportunity to go to the Vipers and take advantage of it.”

Conroy, a 6-2 point guard, has averaged 14.3 points and 8.4 assists in 12 games with the Vipers.

Landry fined

The NBA fined the Rockets and forward Carl Landry because Landry stood up in front of the Rockets bench during recent games. Landry, who said he was fined $10,000 and the team was fined $20,000, said he had heard about the rule change requiring players to sit during games in the preseason but not since and had not received any warning.

“It’s frustrating because it’s a lot of money that’s been lost,” Landry said.